Voltage Converter Selection Guide

Q1: What do I need to operate my US appliances overseas, and vice versa?
Ans:  Voltage Converter + Plug Adapter  (yes, you need both)

There is no worldwide standards for electricity voltage/Hz. You need a voltage converter to transform the voltage of the local electricity to the voltage level required by your appliances; otherwise you might damage your appliance or
cause fire. All voltage converters run on AC electricity only.

Tere are no worldwide standards for the plug configuration. You need to get a plug adapter in order to plug your appliance into foreign electric outlets.

Q2: What does voltage converter (i.e., transformer) mean?
Ans: Voltage converters (i.e., transformers) are devices which change the voltage of the local electricity from one level to another. North America and some other countries operate on 110V/120V, AC 60Hz. Europe and most other
countries operate on 220/240V, AC 50Hz.

Voltage converters transform the voltage of the local electricity from 220/240V to 110/120V or vice versa, so your equipment can operate in different countries without being damaged.

Q3: What does "Step Down" voltage converter / "Step Up" voltage converter mean?
Ans:  Step Down voltage converters transform 220/240V AC  down  to 110/120V AC to operate 110/120V appliances.

Example: A Step Down voltage converter is required to operate a US hair blower in Europe.

Ans:  Step Up voltage converters transform 110/120V AC  up  to 220/240V AC to operate 220/240V appliances.

Example: A Step Up voltage converter is required to operate an European hair blower in the US.

Q4:  How do you determine which Voltage Converter you need?
Ans:  By Wattage!

Find out the voltage (110 or 220 Volt AC) and the wattage rating (watts or amps) for you appliance. It should be written somewhere on the device or in the manual. If watts info is not present and only amps is shown, take the volts
(input AC) and multiply that number by the amps to find watts.

 Example:    Volts(AC input) x Amps(amperage) = Watts (Wattage)

                  110V x 0.3 amps = 33 watt 

Q5:  What is the buying guideline with regards to wattage?
Ans:  Buy a voltage converter with wattage higher than the wattage listed on your appliance.

You should always run your voltage converters at 17% ~ 80% of their rated wattage capacity - never exceed 80% if possible!  Please make sure not to run any appliance with wattage higher than the wattage of your voltage converter.
This might damage both: your appliance and the voltage converter!

Q6: Can I use several appliances at the same time on the same voltage converter / transformer?
Ans: Yes, as long as the total wattage of all appliances does NOT exceed the wattage capacity of your transformer/converter. If you want to run multiple appliances, run the transformer at 80% of its wattage to avoid damaging your
appliances by power fluctuations.

Q7:  Are grounding and fuse useful or just waste of money?
Ans:  Grounding and fuses provides additional safety protection - they protect against accidental electrical shock and damage.